Silk arrangements · faux flowers · silk funeral pieces
Silk and faux flowers need no water and no sun, which is exactly why people love them for the home, the office and the cemetery. With a little dusting and some shade, a well-made silk arrangement looks good for years.
Our silk arrangements, baskets, urns and standing sprays are made from quality artificial flowers set in a dry base. The biggest enemies of silk are dust, strong sunlight and moisture getting into the base.
Never add water, and keep it out of strong sun
Silk arrangements are designed dry. Water ruins the base and the stems, and can rust the wire inside the flowers.
Direct sunlight fades every artificial flower in time, reds and purples fastest. Indoors, keep it out of a sunny window. Outdoors, expect a season or so of good color.
When your flowers arrive
- Take off any plastic sleeve or tissue.
- Gently fluff and reshape the petals and leaves with your fingers. Some flatten a little in transport.
- Pick a spot out of direct sun.
- Keep the box if you want an easy way to store it later.
Where to put them
Anywhere you like, as long as it stays out of strong direct sun.
- Tables, shelves, offices and bathrooms all work. No light needed.
- Avoid a window with afternoon sun, which fades the color over months.
- Keep away from candles, fireplaces and stovetops. Artificial flowers can melt or burn.
- In a bathroom, keep it away from the shower spray so the stems don’t rust.
Everyday care
Silk & Faux Flowers
Artificial flowers that last for years
- How long it lasts
- Years indoors with care. Outdoors, usually a season or two before the sun fades it.
- Water
- None. Never add water.
- Dusting
- Every few weeks, with a feather duster, a soft makeup brush, or a hair dryer on the cool setting.
- Deeper cleaning
- A few times a year, wipe petals and leaves with a barely damp cloth and let them dry fully.
- Sunlight
- Keep it out of direct sun indoors to keep the color bright.
- Watch for
- Bent stems or flattened petals. Most of the stems have wire inside and can be reshaped by hand.
Silk flowers aren’t toxic like real lilies, but small parts, wire stems and foam can choke or injure a pet that chews them. Keep it out of reach of pets that like to chew. If a pet swallows any part, call your veterinarian.
Silk pieces at the cemetery
Silk is a good choice for a grave, because it doesn’t wilt in our heat.
- Check your cemetery’s rules first. Many limit what can be left and remove pieces on a schedule.
- Secure it so wind doesn’t carry it off: a cemetery cone or saddle, or a weighted base.
- Expect the sun to fade it within a season or so. Many families swap in a fresh silk piece for each holiday or season.
- Bring it home for a gentle cleaning if it gets dusty or muddy.
Storing silk flowers
If you rotate seasonal pieces, store the off-season ones carefully.
- Clean and dust first.
- Store in a box with room around the flowers, so nothing is crushed, in a dry closet, not a hot attic or damp garage.
- Fluff the petals by hand when you take it back out.
Quick fixes
Dusty, dull petals
Dust with a soft brush or a cool hair dryer, or wipe with a barely damp cloth.
Color fading
Sun damage. It can’t be reversed, so move it out of direct sun.
Flattened petals or bent stems
Reshape by hand. A few seconds of steam from a kettle, held well back, can relax a creased petal.
A flower came loose
Press it back into the base. A dab of hot glue will hold it for good.
Dirt from outdoors
Bring it inside, let it dry, and brush the dirt off before wiping.
Musty smell
Moisture in storage. Air it out in a dry room, and store it somewhere drier.
Common questions
How do you clean silk flowers?
Dust them with a soft brush or a cool hair dryer, and a few times a year wipe the petals with a barely damp cloth.
Can silk flowers go outside?
Yes, but the sun will fade them within a season or so. Secure them against the wind.
How long do silk flowers last?
Years indoors, out of direct sun.
Do silk flowers need water?
No. Never add water to a silk arrangement.
More flower care guides
Sympathy & Funeral Flowers
Standing sprays, casket sprays, wreaths and baskets
After the service: how to take the flowers home, keep them fresh, and save a few to remember.
Read the guide →Vase Arrangements
Fresh flowers in water
Fresh water every other day, a fresh cut on the stems, and a cool spot out of the sun.
Read the guide →Dish Gardens & Planter Baskets
Mixed green and blooming plants
Several plants in one container. Water lightly, give it bright indirect light, and separate them when they outgrow it.
Read the guide →About pets and plants: The pet notes in this guide are general plant knowledge from our florists, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet chews or swallows any part of a plant, contact a licensed veterinarian right away, or call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. If a person swallows any part of a plant, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
“So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.”1 Corinthians 3:7
Questions about your plant?
Call or text us. We are always glad to help, whether you bought it from us or not.
Call or text (984) 250-7771 Clayton Florist · 11440 Clayton Blvd, Clayton, NC 27520claytonncflorist.com